Choice of EPA administrator pleases environmentalists

He's the first non-Texan to get the job

Ron Curry is new to Texas, but not the state's top environmental issues.

The former New Mexico regulator started Monday as the federal Environmental Protection Agency's administrator in Dallas, marking the first time someone other than a Texan has held the regional post.

In New Mexico, where he worked for eight years under a Democratic governor, Curry faced an unusually big agenda, dealing with many issues similar to those in Texas, from climate change to energy policy. The Obama administration appointed him to the regional job Friday, to the delight of environmentalists.

"Ron gets the big picture," said John Horning, executive director of WildEarth Guardians, a Santa Fe, N.M.-based environmental group. "He understands the importance of regulations to protect public health."

Curry succeeds Al Armendariz, who resigned in April amid Republican protests over comments they said proved the federal agency's hostility toward energy producers.

Armendariz had explained his enforcement strategy by referencing the ancient Romans crucifying Turks. The comments, made at a town hall, went unnoticed for two years before going viral on YouTube. He resigned five days later and now works for the Sierra Club in Texas.

Industry officials and Republican lawmakers said they are concerned Curry, who was a finalist for the post in 2009, is too similar to Armendariz, a self-described activist.

The appointment, which is for an indefinite term, does not require Senate confirmation, but Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., promised "extensive oversight" of Curry. The post covers Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

"The timing of the announcement is the first red flag," Inhofe said, referring to the late Friday news. "While I look forward to learning more about Mr. Curry, various public comments attributed to him raise concerns."

'Pragmatic thinker'

Meanwhile, Sen. Tom Udall, a New Mexico Democrat, described Curry as a "pragmatic thinker who recognizes that environmental and economic prosperity go hand in hand."

As former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's environmental secretary, Curry pushed for new rules aimed at emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases, stricter regulations of oil and gas drilling and extra protections for lakes, rivers and streams. He joined environmentalists to successfully challenge an EPA-issued permit for a proposed coal-fired power plant on Navajo land and the proposed reopening of Asarco's copper smelter in El Paso.

Curry also urged the EPA to block construction of major sources of air pollution in Texas until state regulators tightened permitting rules, saying lax standards harmed New Mexico and failed "to maintain a level economic playing field" with nearby states.

Addressing the unique way Texas regulates air pollution will be among Curry's first priorities in his new role. The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans recently returned two state-specific air-pollution permitting rules to the EPA for reconsideration.

'Some real strength'

Environmentalists said Curry may feel internal pressure to act quickly on the rules, but should take his time to make sure they are as stringent as possible.

"He really needs to see that these bureaucratic pieces of paper have some real strength to them," said Matthew Tejada, executive director of Air Alliance Houston. "That is one of the valuable things that Al did. I hope Ron Curry does the same thing."